Doom Classic brings the ancient, pixelated first-person shooter to the iPhone.
Welcome to today's episode of Recycling Old PC Games for Fun and Profit. Our first contestant: Doom Classic, the first-person shooter that spawned a thousand imitators, several hundred ports, and one horrendous movie.
Next up: Command & Conquer Red Alert, the real-time strategy classic responsible for a massive drop in global productivity.
In my youth I was a tremendous fan of both games, so it stands to reason that I'd welcome them to my iPhone. However, neither is getting a permanent home.
Let's start with Doom. While id Software's official port offers a pixel-perfect recreation, the game is 16 years old--and it shows.
Indeed, juxtaposed with Doom Resurrection, a made-for-iPhone game with 21st century graphics, Doom Classic looks positively ancient. It plays that way, too: You can't even jump.
Part of this is personal bias: I don't think FPS games work well on small screens, especially when touch controls are involved. For me, Doom Classic feels cramped, confined, and seriously out of date.
... Read more
One of the bigger pushes for Nintendo's Wii console recently has been The Conduit, a sci-fi first-person shooter from Sega. Looking past the hype, we put it to the test--hoping to find out if the popular Wii is actually good for something other than casual, party, and kids' games.
As with the recent Ghostbusters debate, our CNET editors' gaming roundtable gives conflicting opinions below, and we naturally want to hear what you think in the handy comments section.
Jeff Bakalar:
We're really impressed at how customizable the game is. In addition to completely changing the controls around, you have the option to move around individual HUD (heads-up-display) items at your leisure, so you can build the presentation that's right for you.
Control-wise, the game performs very smoothly, just how you'd want a first-person-shooter on the Wii to play. It's refreshing to see a game like this built from the ground up specifically for the Wii--you'll notice little things like rack focusing and other camera tricks that aren't seen in most Wii games.... Read more
On Sale Now: $27.99 - $29.99
View the latest prices for The Conduit (Wii)
(Credit:
Steam)
Have any plans for the weekend? Yeah, I'm talking to you. If not, here's a suggestion: how's about some online Capture-the-Flag action (or Deathmatch action, whatever floats your boat) on Unreal Tournament III Black. Oh, and it's free. OK, so it's for the PC only and doesn't apply to the PlayStation 3, but it's still a pretty cool deal and it's something to do.
Whether or not you have the game, it's all good. The free weekend includes the game, the Titan Pack expansion, and the 2.0 patch. Now, all you have to do is sign up for a Steam account, which is also free, and you are good to go.
After the entire weekend hullabaloo dies down, Unreal Tournament III Black will be available on Steam at a 40 percent discount, costing around 12 bucks, and will remain so, right up until March 15.
In the meantime, go frag some people online tonight. Go ahead. Frag the hell outta them. (There are more than a few screenshots of the game below.)
(Credit:
Activision)
It's been interesting to hear Sarah Palin, the Republican VP nominee, accusing Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists"--a huge distraction, in my opinion, from the economic crisis and other pressing issues. If that's not the kind of distraction you enjoy, I have another that might prove more fun.
Activision announced Friday that its new first-person shooter Secret Service will be released later this year for three platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and the PC. The title will let players assume the role of an elite agent tasked with protecting America's top leadership under high pressure.
The story takes place on Inauguration Day in Washington D.C. An extremist assault has been launched against the capitol and it's unclear who's friend or foe. There's no time for negotiation as players get thrust into the line of fire to protect the nation's leaders. The action takes place among famous landmarks and everywhere in between, including both Marine One and Air Force One.
Secret Service will cost $39.99 for the Xbox 360, $29.99 for PlayStation 2, and $19.99 for PC. Now with all the confusion and distraction going in the political arena, I think it's necessary to say that this game is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the real U.S. Secret Service.
D-Box's FPS vest will be compatible with Call of Duty 2, among other games.
(Credit: Activision)Being a virtual soldier is easy. After all, getting shot and killed is no more annoying than having to reload the last save file or man a checkpoint. But for the truly hardcore, D-Box will distribute a special first-person-shooter vest that will let gamers feel each shot as it lands. (D-Box is also the distributor of motion gaming chairs like the GP-200.)
Like the 3rd Space FPS Gaming Vest before it, this product works on the principle of air pressure. Four pads on the front and two behind will simulate shots to the body. Thankfully, a D-Box representative said the blows will feel no more painful than a friendly pat.
There's a list of games, like Call of Duty 2, that the vest is compatible with. The availability date isn't firm yet, but for now we know the unit should retail for around $315 when it hits the Singapore market.
(Via Crave Asia)
(Credit:
id Software)
After Doom 3's less-than-stellar reception from the gaming world, it was safe to say that the franchise that changed gaming forever would be put to sleep. However, word from Slashdot says that id Software is very much into production on Doom 4. In fact, the award-winning developer is looking for some help:
We are looking for talented, ambitious, and passionate individuals eager to join our accomplished team of developers working on the industry's most innovative and anticipated games.
No word yet on which platforms we'll see Doom 4 on, but our money is on the usual threesome of PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
A demo for one of the most hyped games of the year showed up on the Xbox Live marketplace Sunday night to the surprise of many.
The demo features a tweaked version of the first 45 minutes of the game, allowing players to experience more weapons than what you'd normally start out with.
Xbox Live immediately suffered massive slowdowns as word quickly spread about the chance to take a sneak peak at what is sure to be one of the best games of 2007. There has been no word on whether or not PC fans can get a taste of Rapture, but we'd imagine a Windows demo will be coming soon.
Bioshock launches August 21 for the Xbox 360 and PC. A limited special edition is being offered for both platforms and will include a behind-the-scenes DVD, a CD with the Bioshock soundtrack, and a Big Daddy figurine (the lovable gentleman seen in the box art above).
Check out Bioshock screenshots here.
On Sale Now: $18.99
View the latest prices for BioShock (Xbox 360)
The original trailer for Killzone 2 at E3 2005 featured notoriously prerendered cinematics that raised expectations for the game beyond any reasonable level--or so we thought. Last night--more than two years later--developer Guerrilla showed off a playable demo that may have detractors eating their words. If the trailer is any indication of the final game--due out in 2008--it looks as if Sony's finally got a PS3 exclusive that will have Xbox 360 owners green with envy.
For more detail, check out Ricardo Torres' and Jeff Gerstmann's report on GameSpot.
I guess I could call the R2 Gaming Mouse Mark II a flashy device, but I would never go with such an obvious pun. Ever.
(Credit:
ThinkGeek)
Still, the blinking LEDs were the first thing that caught my eye when I spotted this gadget for $59.99 on ThinkGeek. And they're programmable, so you can make them pulse to the unique beat of your own first-person shooting.
The apparent appeal of this mouse, besides its disco aura, is that it's customizable beyond the lights--a definite plus for gamers. Using the PAL 2.0 programming language, players can assign different functions to each of the seven buttons, including a function for tap, double tap and tap-and-hold. Plus, the round shape promises more precise fingertip control, which anyone out to kill the bad guys in Call of Duty 3 will surely appreciate.
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